Genesee-Shiawassee County MI Archives Biographies.....Dewey, George M. 1817 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 24, 2008, 3:40 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

GEORGE M. DEWEY, who is the largest land owner in Genesee County, and one of its
early settlers, began life here as a merchant, trading with the Chippewa
Indians, with whom he became so great a favorite that they adopted him into
their tribe and named him Awanagashiek. He talked with them familiarly in their
language, and they had such confidence in him as to accept his commercial paper
in lieu of money. Later he sold his merchandise business to his brothers,
Charles E. and D. D. Dewey, and began handling lands, which he has since made
the business of his life.

  The home of our subject is on the Dewey Farm in Mt. Morris Township, and
embraces over a section of finely improved land. He was the projector of the
Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, and gave to its promotion such close attention
that he broke down in health and had to resign his position as President of the
road, since which time he has devoted himself entirely to his own individual
affairs which occupy all his time. His genial face and venerable form are known
throughout the county, and his portrait presented on the opposite page,
perpetuates the features of one who enjoys the respect of all.

Mr. Dewey was born in Canandaigua, N. Y., January 1, 1817. His father, Ebenezer
B. Dewey, who was born in Royalton, Vt., was a man of large business ability,
owning and controling about three hundred miles of stage route between Albany
and Montreal, Canada. In 1815 he removed to Canandaigua, and in 1848 came to
Flint; he bought a farm in Mt. Morris Township, and made it his home until his
death at the age of ninety-four. He was a pillar in the Presbyterian Church, and
served that body as an Elder. His wife, Harriet Meeker by name, was born in
Hubbardton, Vt., and died in the Green Mountain State at the age of fifty years.
The father married for his second wife Miss Gilbert, who died in Mt. Morris
Township.

  Our subject was the oldest child in the family, and had his training in
Canandaigua, but later removed to Hubbardton, where he attended the Royalton
Academy. At the age of sixteen he entered his father's employ, and remained thus
employed until 1836, when he determined to go to Missouri. Stopping in Detroit,
he was persuaded by friends to remain in Michigan, and coming to Corunna by
stage he traveled on foot to Flint, which then had a sawmill, two groceries and
a few log houses. In the fall of 1838, he inaugurated in Flint one of its first
mercantile establishments, and early built up an extensive business with the
Indians, having accounts on his books with them, and receiving and showing
confidence. Three years after commencing in business here, he began dealing in
lands, buying all that he could at fifty cents an acre, and paying cash for it,
and afterward bought from the Government at $1 an acre. At one time he had sixty
or seventy thousand acres.

  From 1848 to 1852 Mr. Dewey was receiver of Public Moneys at the General Land
Office in Flint and had to give bonds to the amount of $150,000. Much of his
property was improved by him and he has cleared thousands of acres. In 1845 he
began raising fine stock bringing the first sheep into the county, and later
introduced Merino and French Merino sheep from Vermont. Upon January 1, 1857, he
organized the stock com pany for the Flint & Pere Marquette Railroad, and by his
push and persistence he was able to place this enterprise upon its feet, so that
he could obtain the franchise. He made out the survey and paid for it himself.
He bought the right of way to Saginaw and then let the contracts for the
building of the road of which he remained President until 1861. The city of
Flint and its vicinity may thank his enterprise for their being favored with
this road, as it would have had another terminus had it not been for his
shrewdness and far-sighted enterprise.

  In 1856 Mr. Dewey built the Awanaga Block, and also laid out the Dewey
Addition to Flint. He was married here in 1848 to Miss Ellen Cummings, daughter
of Judge Simeon Cummings, of Batavia, N. Y. She came to Flint in 1842 with her
brothers, and has spent most of her life here. Mr. Dewey was influential in
securing a charter for the city, and was a member of the First Board of
Aldermen. He is now a demitted member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in
which he was the Second Noble Grand. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and
was for forty-six years a Vestryman. In his old Whig days he voted for
Tippecanoe, and has been a Republican since 1854. For some years he was a member
of the State Central Committee.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892

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